Used 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Consumer Reviews
Used Santa Fe for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Santa Fe
bmn, 01/14/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
37 of 37 people found this review helpful
Purchased my car May'10. Currently has 10,000 miles on it. There is much to like about the Santa Fe. It handles well in the snow and even with record snow fall I have not had any problems getting around. Other things I like - great acceleration,easy to manuveur in tight spots like parking ramps. Things that are disappointig - interior is nicely styled but scratches easily, carpeting is cheap, bigget disappointment is gas mileage. Should be getting an average of 22 mpg (according to Hyundai web site) but I am getting 14-15 mpg average. Brought to dealer they checked it out and said it is running as it should so this is what my mileage will be.
Great CUV, great value
sir_timbit, 04/08/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
50 of 52 people found this review helpful
We were cross-shopping a Santa Fe against a Toyota Rav-4. Just bought a Santa Fe base model, FWD, V6. Considering the price and standard features, plus longer warranty, the Santa Fe has so much more going for it. The base model we have has a V6 with plenty of grunt, yet reasonable fuel economy, standard Bluetooth, heated seats (we're in Canada), USB iPod hookup and a good stereo to match. Huge amount of storage in the back, nice hidden storage underneath too. Lots of standard features. The rear hatch swings up instead of to the side like on the Rav. Excellent visibility all around, unlike a lot of competitors with their tiny windows. No wonder they push rear view cameras!
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe for sale near you
Showing 3 of 164 listings
- GLS 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,42248 mi away
- GLS 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,40055 mi away
- GLS 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,79565 mi away
See all 164 listings
Solid CUV, excellent value
captathlon, 09/15/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
50 of 52 people found this review helpful
I've waited to write a review on our Limited FWD until we've had it for a couple months in order to get over the "I love this vehicle" feeling that we all have when we get a new car. We now have almost 3,000 miles on ours, and we don't necessarily love this vehicle, but we really like it a lot. We're very pleased with the power and fuel mileage, impressed with the design and build quality, and pretty satisfied with the features. There is some suspension noise and the ride can be a bit jarring when going over large bumps or potholes, but overall it has a nice ride. If I had the chance to do it over again, would I still buy a Santa Fe? Absolutely.
Wanna know about the new 2011 Santa Fe??
misterbill2, 12/22/2010
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
76 of 80 people found this review helpful
Got the vehicle on Thanksgiving. Had a 2005 CRV, traded it in. The Santa Fe SE is a better SUV. I have been an industrial mechanic and Honda owner for 35 years. Hyundai won me over. I got the SE 3.5 version. As hard as I could try the only thing I didn't like was the harsher ride than the Honda, but more quiet inside. It feels a little more sporty, on smooth roads, but all in all I don't think you can go wrong. This car is well built, and designed, the engine had plenty of power if you put the pedal to the metal (its too new to do it too often) it is truly a little pocket rocket, pulls some G's! Considering the warranties and Consumers Reports rating its better than Toyota or Honda overall!
A jewel in the rough
Great One, 03/10/2017
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
30 of 31 people found this review helpful
The SUV exceeded all expectations. I paid 21k brand new for an AWD model and it has been flawless for 65k miles. I do regular maintenance myself and it has never once needed repairs, other than routine maintenance and a set of tires. Still on OE brakes. It is roomy and comfortable and, for the price, provides decent bluetotth, and a modest music system. Yes, it is underpowered, and the gas mileage could be better, but overall, far exceeds expectations, particularly at this price point. An outstanding value, way better than my 2017 Santa Fe Sport.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Pretty Good
mikeeha, 12/21/2010
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I was comparing the Santa Fe and the Equinox. They are the largets SUV's at the price point. So far I've owned it for over a month and have about 1200 miles driven. When I was test driving the vehicle I noticed how smooth the ride was. The newly paved roads probably had a lot to do with it. I now notice how poorly it handles bumps and pot holes. You really can feel everything. The handling is a bit clunky. The fuel economy is a lot less than I thought it would perform. The model I purchased was said to be 21/26. The city mileage is nowhere near the estimated. I live in the city of Chicago and get roughly 15mpg in city, while I do get around 23mpg highway.
bad value
dalaska, 07/22/2012
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
33 of 39 people found this review helpful
I own two 2011 santa fe's and four 2005 santa fe's..the maintenance costs for the 2011's are triple the 2005's for the first 35, 000 miles. I wish I had not purchased the 2011"s. I am really disspapointed after owning the 05"s. they went downhill...I have gone thru 4 front hub bearings, 3 lower ball joints, 2 tierod ends, 4 sway bar links, 3 power steering pumps in the 2011"s and it is still not over.
Great buy !
murph20, 05/08/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
This was a great buy for the money.Lots of extras included in the base price and other options available at reasonable markup. With the V6 putting out 276 hp it has excellent acceleration and handles reasonably well. More than ample cargo space , attractive interior[love the blue lights] and one of the worlds best warranties makes this a great choice of a mid size SUV. Oh did I mention the price ??? But to be fair I have mention that it does not have the smoothest ride. All in all I have to say that I love this Vehicle for the price.
I really like my Santa Fe
maine_cpa, 12/29/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought the "bait and switch" car from the newspaper ad, so I think I got a very good price. It's stripped down, 4 cylinder, front wheel drive, but has the bluetooth, ipod connector, hands-free phone, and radio controls on the steering wheel. today, it's 1 year old, 10,000 miles. Mileage is about 22 in the city but rises to 26+ on the highway if I keep to 65 and use the "manual" feature of the automatic transmission to force it to stay in 6th gear. I also drive conservatively in general. It will get up and go if you ask it to, but mpg's will suffer.
Love this SUV
mikea11414, 02/07/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
While I agree the car is a little noisy over bad roads everything else so far is great. It's alot of fun to drive. Has the get up and go when you hit the gas, even better than my previous 09 murano. Great view of the road too which my wife loves.
Six Years New
Michael MacKinney, 01/13/2017
updated 01/16/2018
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
No repairs or complaints in over six years. Maintenance is the only requirement our Santa Fe. When considering a midsize SUV, the Hyundai Santa Fe with the V6 is the only way to go! Fun, really fun to drive. All who have driven it have been complimentary about the pickup and handling of our Santa Fe. My wife loved her minivan until we purchased the Santa Fe. I've been stuck with the minivan for the last two years, she loves the handling of our SUV for all of her driving (for long trips the minivan is quieter and holds more stuff + I'm stuck driving). The Santa Fe is the only vehicle I've owned with no repairs needed for this length of time. Highway mileage is about 26 mpg (24-28) strong head/cross winds make a difference. The trip computer reads about 5% above my mpg calculations. Our Santa Fe was traded for a smaller vehicle, hated to see it go but my wife bought me the coupe of my dreams.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Lousy Bumper cover
freddiew, 02/07/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 13 people found this review helpful
I own this Santa Fe since last week of 2010. Driving is not too bad at all but last week while I drive in my parking space with almost no speed, the bumper cover fell off. I push most of the bumper cover back except the driver side corner. Body shop at dealer said must get another bumper at cost of $1078. Called Hyundai and they said drive in snow is not cover by warranty. Most bumper must meet 5mph requirement thus means this is a "TOFU" comparable bumper. Even I have the money to replace same thing will happen again if is getting near any snow or things. Disappointing................! Mistake to buy one!
cost to own
ksig, 06/14/2012
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 12 people found this review helpful
The good news is that this is a great road car and does a nice job in snowy weather. On mixed town and highway i'm getting 23.5 mpg. Now for the bad news, with just a little over $26,000 miles I'm looking at a total maintenance cost of just over $1,300. this is well over the Edmunds figure. the 15k service was $282. the 30k will be $550. I'm also expected to have serivce to the rear differential and transfer cases @$120 each. Finally, there is some filter that needs to be replaced at 30k that will cost $250.
Loving it...
abaldtexan, 07/26/2012
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I am very pleased with my Santa Fe! It is just the right car for me... size, performance... value... All the things that matter.
My Last Hyundai
fernellav, 01/15/2012
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2011 on 01/15/2011 started experiencing transmission prob late 2011, Jan 2012 vehicle no longer wants to go into park or reverse need to turn off and turn on. only driver and 8000 miles. Customer service is non-existent everyone bouncing me around cannot provide me with a loaner to get around my sales rep tells me he is no mechanic the dealer where bought sends me to another dealer really? I traded it and got me an escape trust this works better at least I know their customer service is way better having had a ford before
Great performance SUV for a low buck
KSS, 11/27/2010
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
It took one test drive in the Santa Fe SE to seal the deal for me. I am 6'4" and this car has enough room for five of me. It drives and handles like a truck; if you're into sharp handling this may not be for you. It handles bumps and rough terrain really well, and is loaded with power options, bluetooth, and other neat accessories. On my model there is a beautiful wood trim lining that accents the interior, and the paint is sharp and glossy. On the freeway, the shifting is smooth, the kick down with the V6 gets you to a quick 80-90 mph boost in no time, and braking is a breeze.
Best Value For the Cost
spbinmb, 12/17/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
We purchased a new Santa Fe late in September paying 31.5k all in no financing. The owner of the dealership is also the manager, and offered to trade it in at the same value in two years. We've put about 2500 km on, about half winter driving with icy roads - the traction control and AWD is excellent. The defrost takes about 5 minutes to clear the windshield, same for rear and mirrors. Heated seats take less, and are wonderful when coming out of -30c. Road noise is minimal, visibility is good. No mechanical issues to date - when we took possession of the vehicle the turn signal was a little sticky; it didn't pop back into position automatically. After a week of use that cleared up
I really like the car.
mikea11414, 02/06/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I only have 300 miles on it but love the looks and driving view. The ride is nice but it is noisy over rough roads and you do feel the tight suspension. I had a 09 murano and the ride was softer. Very easy to work the nav and other functions blue light is nice. Put your foot on the gas and you go zoom. My wife loves the view over the hood when she drives it. Except for the noise everything seems great so far. I actually like the firmer ride as I feel more in control. Wind noise was terrible in the murano but is much better in the SF. So far we really like this car andr . If you can spring for the extra few bucks go for the limited it has some nice added touches.
Ok so far...
midwestrn, 09/09/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Just traded an 08 Nissan Rogue with a myriad of problems for the 11 Santa Fe. So far, it's been ok. We went for the V6 SE FWD because that is all that was on the lot at the time. Would have preferred the AWD as we live in midwest with unpredictable winter weather, but hoping for the best. Gas mileage has been the best thing so far. I drive 90m round trip daily in combined city/hwy. We are getting 23mpg combined average. Better than the Rogue. It drives ok. Nothing to rave about, but not terrible either. The drivers seat is a little uncomfortable. It is power adjustable, but neither my husband or I can get comfortable in it yet. Hoping it's just from being new and will soften a bit.
Like it better than I thought!
Hrdtograsp, 05/03/2019
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
So far it has been a great vehicle runs smooth everything works handles very well
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
santa FE AWD SE 2011
rp, 11/13/2010
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
Have been reading Edmunds for years. So, time to give back. Just bought 2011 Santa FE AWD SE (first new car for me : ) I am coming from an old Accord 4 cyl. - Exterior looks are great. Interior is alright. Drive is not nimble (this is not BMW), but i expected it to be tighter on suspension (it's too bouncy for me). - Acceleration is responsive. - Overall features for given price is nice (bluetooth, v6, awd, auto dim mirrors, heated seats, roof rack + cross rails, steptronic transmission, warranty, fog lights, driver power seats) - I only have driven 80 miles so far. I will write back again in 500 miles. - Mpg - 22 combined
Great vehicle
captk321, 10/17/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Nearing 3,000 miles and am still impressed with the Santa Fe. The V6 performs well. Mileage has been averaging 22 around town. Nice leather with the Limited pkg. Infinity sound system sounds good but nothing special. No road trip yet but am looking forward to one soon.
I love my Santa Fe!
Arretta Johnson, 07/31/2016
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The ONLY reason I need to sell is because my family has outgrown it and I now need a vehicle with at least 6 seats! I've owned one other SUV/crossover and this vehicle's gas mileage is really nice and I'm certainly going to miss it! It has an exceptionally large trunk for its class and has NEVER BEEN WRECKED!!!! I bought this car from my father in October, making me the second owner. The vehicle's value when I paid for my tags (October 2015) was $15,000. I've only put about 25,000 miles on it; my family of 5 has now made a trip to South Carolina for Christmas to see my family and a trip to Florida for summer vacation at the family condo to see more family, and it's been great! For this second trip, I purchased the cross-bars to complete the roof rack accessory, and the dealership installed those for me. I have kept strict reigns on regulatory maintenance, and just replaced the battery last week; it comes with a 5 year warranty.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Hyundai not trustworthy about mpg
Belinda, 04/15/2016
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 16 people found this review helpful
The MPG was NEVER what was advertised no matter how careful I drove. Also, I kept track of every tank and the built in computer system was rigged, showing exactly 1 mpg over what I was truly getting. This sounds petty to complain about but I see the Elantra is mis-advertised as well but was advertised to get 10 or more mpg verses what customers actually got. Also, HATED the wiper control placement. Frequently when changing the radio station, I'd accidently brush against my wiper switch causing wiper fluid to splash all over my newly waxed vehicle. Noise level started out minimal but within months the wind factor when highway driving was LOUD so I can only believe the window and door seals were deteriorating. On the other hand, this vehicle was very comfortable, rode smooth and I loved the storage in the back by the spare tire. The storage area had sections so things could be divided. Loved that part of it. I also slept in the back seat during a camping trip. Back seats reclined....very comfortable.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Much better value than X-3 at 52K
bobnoxious1, 08/19/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 19 people found this review helpful
Bought the Limited with every option, navigation, tow package great stereo etc.. Tested SUV's from every maker from Honda, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Acura, Subaru etc.. and compared all makers with the features they offered compared to the final price they charged. I found the Hyundai Limited offered the same options as BMW X-3 and the mercedes. One difference was the Hyundai had more power, more legroom and was $23K less out the door than the other two for the same options. But some people just have to have that name on the front. The stereo was fantastic and we ended up subscribing to XM satalite too. The I-pod hook up and phone sync were better than beemers too.
very unhappy with dealer and hyundai customer service
drobbins, 11/21/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 10 people found this review helpful
Lets just get right to it. A terriable metal noise in the back door.Dealer claims this is normal .to me and everyone else sounds like a pop weld somewhere between panels. how about a terriable squeaking noise in my driver seat sounds like a broken bed spring. Dealer claims this is normal. And how about a loud humming noise from the stereo system. Again dealer said this is normal. And how about help from Hyundai customer service. NO WAY DEALER CLAIMS CAR UP TO SPEC'S WE VALUE WHAT ARE DEALER TELLS US??. What a shame i only have 2300 miles it could of been a good value for the money. I guess I will look and trade my car in. my loss and my gain into a quantiy car this time like Honda.
Poor gas mileage
geobcon, 12/23/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
The MPG, when having first purchased the Hyundai Santa Fe, was upwards of 25.5 on trips and around 22 to 23 in the city driving. This was the prime reason I got rid of my Dodge Dakota which was giving me 16MPG/18MPG city/highway respectively. My total driven miles since the lease of my Santa Fe are 3800 +/- as of 12/12/11. About a week ago, 12/05/11, the MPG had decreased to 19.0 MPG on trips and very little change in city driving. I filled the tank and noted that the MPG reading went back up to 24.0 MPG for a few miles then dropped back to 19.0 MPG whether I was on the road at a constant 60 MPH or driving in the city at 30 MPH . Checking the actual miles driven since the last fill-up (on 12/12/11) with the gallons of gas consumed, i.e. Miles/Gallons used, the MPG calculated to 18.0 MPG. Why?? The odometer resets the MPG after fill up. Im up to 19.8MPG having driven 3 miles from the gas station and will continue to monitor the MPG to see if it reaches the expected MPG (the reason I purchased a Hyundai) I brought the car to the dealership (where leased on 09/12/11) to have the problem checked and they werent able to find any problem other than the tire pressure was down by 3 psi. Our temp had fallen to below freezing that day but even so, when the problem first occurred, the temp was in the 60s. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem and if so, is there a solution?
We're spoiled because this SUV has been amazing!
Stacey J., 07/27/2023
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
At 173K miles, this Sante Fe has been out dream car. So much room & zoom, we've been able to bring home 8ft vintage couches a couple times! It was our first Hyundai & it exceeded our expectations. Not at all sure how we'll be as happy as we have been driving her. We're spoiled forever.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
From like to LOVE in a month :)
kandeemann2001, 04/19/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 28 people found this review helpful
Absolutely LOVE this SUV! Got a black Limited w/black leather. Traded up from an 06' GLS and couldn't be happier. Cannot understand for the life of me why people are comparing this to the cheap-looking Rav4 and CR-V. Parked next to a black 11' Highlander Limited yesterday and got LOTS of looks and attention! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the black leather and the new woodgrain trim is absolutely stunning. The cabin is plush and luxurious. Navigation works great and 12-speaker sound system is PHENOMENAL. The new V6 will plant you into your seatback if you push it, but we've got light feet :) Very roomy, lots of storage, and perfect size...not too big and not too small. It's perfect :)
Nice car but..
solarfried, 01/14/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 18 people found this review helpful
Drove the car for 3 weeks. Noisy you hear every bump on the road and feel most of them. The 4 cylinder cannot decide which gear to accelerate in. When you press accelerator a bit (not floor it) or floor it it it takes a second or two to decide to go. The handling at speed is a bit less than precise and the car can be all over the lane if it's windy. Had the previous model with a v6 and it was much better. If you want one, I higly recommend, take in on the xpressway with radio off and listen to the noise. No two Santa Fe's ride the same. You might find one that is actually quiet. This one was one noisy car. The tire noise was obtrusive. The road noise got transmitted into the vehi
Ride quality NOT good, all else very good
greggtex, 07/11/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 25 people found this review helpful
Traded in '08 Sonata. Hyundai quality and warranty is great. Ride quality on our Santa Fe is awful. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't buy the Santa Fe until Hyundai gets the ride better. I know it's an SUV, but ride should still be better. Plenty of power from V-6. Mileage is ok at best. We are averaging about 21.5 in mixed driving. About to take long highway trip, so intersted to see how the mpg is on highway.
Bad Handling under acceleration
Pete, 02/07/2019
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
Steering touch too fast, especially when accelerating, almost like driving on ice.
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
NOT IMPRESSED with my Santa Fe
taryn23, 06/23/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 55 people found this review helpful
I am pretty disappointed with the Santa Fe I bought, I am 21 and I bought myself a brand new vehicle and what do you know less then 4000km on it the sun roof breaks. I live 4hours away from the nearest Hyundai dealership!! They told me I was not allowed to get it fixed by any local mechanics so I had to spend literally hundreds of dollars on this piece of crap vehicle travelling almost every other week to try and get it fixed all this money is coming out of MY pocket. At about 120km/hr it starts to vibrate like crazy on the highway. Never again will I buy a Hyundai. I'll stick with Toyota from now on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not a fan of it
henryh_, 02/03/2011
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 15 people found this review helpful
I drove one of these as a rental car for 3 weeks while my Volkswagen GTI was being repaired from an accident. I should qualify my review by saying that I'm a small car guy and generally do not like SUVs. This is what was available for me to rent. There's wasn't anything remarkably bad about the Santa Fe. It just didn't impress me or have any features that stood out. I'm not sure why anyone would pick this over the Tucson, which is smaller, less expensive, and has better styling inside and out.
moving on!
Stuart Rosenbaum, 08/16/2018
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 9 people found this review helpful
Doesnt hold its value any better then any other brand
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2011 6 Speed Manual Transmission GLS Santa Fe
ShifterNob, 08/23/2022
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm a tall dude @ 6'6" and Santa Fe is a great fit, especially compared to the smaller Tucson Pros: -Driving is an absolute pleasure. Comfortable and quite ride. -Fun to drive, good on gas (throw it in 5/6th gear whenever I can), very responsive, plenty of cargo room, and parts are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. -Basic maintenance done, LM synthetic oil, with no major issues (knock on wood). -I love that I have a mid size SUV that is a manual transmission. Cons: -Reverse is on the left side of the 1st gear. I prefer that Reverse is on the right side of sixth gear. This eliminates the possibility of absentmindedly putting it in reverse or starting car in reverse thinking it's in first (happened to me on a early early morning before I had my cup of joe. Luckily always start slow out of parking and noticed reverse movement which I corrected right away) -Manual Trans Santa Fe is limited to the 4cyl FWD GLS model. Would be nice to have more options, especially AWD -Driving in rush hour or deadlock traffic is no fun Wish the newer models came with the manual transmission option, but will stick with what's available.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Reliable, not a lie.
Ken, 03/09/2025
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
250,000 miles and I only needed regular maintenance. We don’t wanna give it up, but it’s only a matter of time.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Over 311,000 miles and still going in 2025
Morgan, 03/26/2025
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
TL;DR: Bought used from family after lightning strike required new computer; has required typical high-mileage maintenance (front axles, valve cover gasket, O2 sensors). Spacious interior suitable for long trips even with back issues, good cargo space. Regular oil changes essential—premium oil like Royal Purple improves performance noticeably. Reliable with proper upkeep. My ex sister-in-law bought this car new, passed it down to my niece, and I bought it from her. My truck's engine blew up on me and I needed something quick and cheap. It supposedly was struck by lightning before and had to have the computer replaced. I have had to put some money into it for new parts, which is to be expected for the miles. The only major expense was replacing the front axles after the joints broke(around 280,000 miles). The only repair I have made to the engine is replacing the valve cover gasket. Needed new O2 sensors after 250,000. It's comfortable enough for me to make 12 hour drives(with back issues and arthritis) just stopping for gas and food. Plenty of room for two teenagers and two adults or two adults, two pre-teens, and a toddler in a car seat. 3 full size people in the backseat would be tight. Plenty of room for loading it up as well. I have loaded to riding on the axles with 8 foot 2x6' from floor to ceiling with the backseat down, passenger seat laid back(or between the front seats on the consle), and back closed. I can definitely tell when it needs an oil change(fuel mileage drops and it feels sluggish). I use more expensive oil, performance oil like Royal Purple definitely makes a difference, but gets pricey, even with me doing the work myself. It's still cheaper than $166 from a drive-thu oil change with high mileage oil. As long as you put some money into replacing old parts and keeping up with maintenance, it will run great.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value